Ukrainian festival 2011 (1)

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  Last Sunday, I went to the Toronto Ukrainian festival which is billed as the largest Ukrainian festival in North America. I’ve noticed almost all of the festivals which I attended in Toronto this year have said that they’re the largest of their type so what’s going on with the rest of the continent.  On the same day, I also went to the Polish festival which also advertises itself as the largest in North America. There are so many different ethnic festivals in Toronto that they have to double up on weekends! The Ukrainian one was better than the Polish festival but then they’ve been at it for fifteen years while this is the sixth year for the Poles. There seem to be Polish perogies as opposed to Ukrainian ones although I couldn’t tell the difference in taste or appearance. The two festivals were about two miles apart so I could hike from one to the other through High Park, a large wooded area in west central Toronto.

Poster for festival

The Ukrainian Canadian community in Canada is made up of over 4 million people who trace their heritage to Ukraine and have been part of the Canadian mosaic for over 128 years. The community is well known and respected. As a result the Festival attracts diverse audiences with multi generational families not only from the GTA, but from all parts of Canada, the USA and abroad. (from festival webpage)

Icons for sale

The Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation Centre (UCRDC) (Ukrainian: Українсько-Канадський Дослідчо-Документаційний Центр, French: Centre Ukrainien Canadien des Recherches et Documentation) is a community center which collects, catalogs, and preserves material documenting the history, culture and contributions of Ukrainians throughout the world. UCRDC produces documentary films, such as the 2003 Between Hitler and Stalin, prepares educational materials, and sponsors lectures, conferences and exhibits on various topics related to Ukrainian issues.

UCRDC is a non-profit organization which seeks community support through various fundraising activities. The Center functions as a resource location which, according to its website, "holds an archive, a small library, oral histories (both in audio and video format), photographs, memoirs, personal archives and other miscellaneous items." (wikipedia)